Guwahati, Dec 16: More than 2,800 children engaged in labour were rescued across Assam over the past five years, but convictions against employers, payment of compensation and rehabilitation of the victims have remained abysmally low, according to official data and child rights activists.
Between 2020 and 2025, a total of over 2,800 child labourers most of them employed in the commercial sector were rescued in the State. During this period, 1,264 cases were registered against employers, but only six convictions were secured: three in Sivasagar district and one each in Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Tinsukia.
Several districts, including Goalpara, Dhemaji and Hailakandi, reported no cases registered against employers despite rescues, while many others recorded disproportionately low case registration compared to the number of children rescued.
Activists pointed out that employing children is a cognisable offence under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2016, and said the lack of convictions has significantly weakened deterrence.
“Engaging a child as labour is a cognisable offence. As it is a crime against children, strong legal deterrence against employers is essential to eliminate the practice from society,” a child rights activist said.
The payment of back wages and compensation to rescued children has also remained negligible. Only a handful of children received back wages in districts such as Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi and Jorhat, while most districts reported little or no payments.
State government allocation for immediate compensation between 2020 and 2024 stood at just ₹5.20 lakh across four districts, with several districts receiving no funds during the past five years. In as many as 19 districts, rescued children did not receive immediate compensation, despite a Standard Operating Procedure of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights mandating payment within 17 days of rescue.
The Supreme Court, in the MC Mehta vs State of Tamil Nadu case, has mandated compensation of ₹20,000 from the employer for every rescued child labourer, along with an additional ₹5,000 government grant for children employed in hazardous occupations.
Rehabilitation measures have also remained weak. The labour department reportedly lacks information on whether families of rescued children were linked to social security schemes. Fewer than 300 rescued children were enrolled in schools during the five-year period, with South Salmara and Dhubri accounting for most of the admissions. In several districts, school enrolment was negligible or nil, raising concerns about re-trafficking.
Meanwhile, the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in Tamil Nadu is facing a severe funding crunch, affecting the rehabilitation of rescued children. As many as 3,861 children are studying in 213 NCLP special schools across 15 districts, but monthly stipends of ₹400 have not been paid in many areas.
About 724 staff members, including instructors, have reportedly gone unpaid for months, with some paying school building rent from their own pockets. Due to the lack of funds, newly rescued children are currently unable to be admitted to the special schools.
“The special schools are in a critical stage without funds, and the rehabilitation process has been severely affected,” a project director said, adding that staff had not received salaries for nearly 20 months.
Child rights activist R. Vidyasagar said reports indicate a sharp rise in child labour, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. “In this situation, NCLP schools assume greater importance in providing bridge courses and mainstreaming children into formal education,” he said.
A senior State government official said the NCLP is fully funded by the Centre and that delays were linked to procedural issues. “There were certain issues from our side, such as the submission of audit and utilisation certificates, which have now been produced. The matter is under process with the Government of India, and we hope the funds will be released shortly,” the official said.
